WHEEL PAVER-PERIMETER TAPING TOOL
A paver-perimeter taping tool has a frame with a mounting surface and a peripheral edge. A tape-roll support post mounts to the frame and supports a roll of tape. A tape roller mounted to the frame has a rotatable applicator surface that extends beyond the frame's peripheral edge. Tape may extend from the roll of tape to the applicator surface. A wheel mounts to the frame. A handle attaches to the frame and extends to an operator handle end that an operator may grasp to push the tool adjacent a perimeter of pavers. The tool may apply a layer of tape to the paver perimeter, which is adjacent the top surface of the pavers. When particulate is applied to the top surface of the pavers the grout is held in the gaps between adjacent pavers at the perimeter thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/859,232 filed Jun. 10, 2019. This prior application is hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT(Not Applicable)
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT(Not Applicable)
REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis disclosure relates to a tool for applying tape to a perimeter edge or “paver-perimeter” of a plurality of adjacent paver blocks, bricks, stones, or similar flat surface hardscaping material, (hereinafter referred to as “pavers” or a “paver” for efficiency) after the pavers are laid out in a hardscaping plan. An objective of the tape is to halt or reduce the amount of grout that falls out from between the pavers at the perimeter-edge of the plurality of pavers.
It is popular to utilize a plurality of pavers secured adjacent each other to form a water pervious surface surrounding a backyard pool, in the form of a backyard patio adjacent a residential dwelling, and in many other locations. Executing such a hardscaping plan involves many challenges to landscape professionals. The present inventors are the inventors and owners of U.S. Pat. No. 9,919,432 entitled “Hand-Held, Self-Powered Paver Moving Tool, With An Operator-Supported Rechargeable Vacuum Power Pack” that issued on Mar. 20, 2018 and that involves an improved tool for moving pavers and placing them within a hardscaping surface. The problems solved by the disclosures within that patent are but several of many problems associated with hardscaping using pavers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,718 entitled “Paver Bloc Edging System” that issued on Nov. 30, 1999 discloses fundamental aspects of using pavers for a hardscaping surface, such as a path. The foregoing patent deals with problems associated with keeping pavers from moving after installation of pavers next to each other. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,016 entitled “Paver Guid-On System” that issued on Apr. 22, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,718 entitled “Edge Restraint For Water Permeable Pavement Systems” that issued on Jun. 21, 2011; U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,310 entitled “Paver Installation System” that issued on Oct. 9, 2012; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,060,081 entitled “Edging System for Unit Pavement System” that issued on Apr. 28, 2018 all disclose problems and proposed solutions for producing a stable and enduring paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers positioned adjacent each other. All of the foregoing patents are herein incorporated by reference.
The foregoing patents show that after a plurality of pavers are placed adjacent each other, they define a perimeter-edge that must be secured against movement, incursion of plants, insect damage and loss of grout. Furthermore, it is increasingly common to use polymeric sand as grout poured into the narrow gaps between adjacent pavers. Polymeric sand, if installed properly in the gaps, will harden to lock pavers in place and create a more effective weed and insect deterrent while still allowing water to drain freely through those gaps. Water cures the polymeric grout to form a rigid, cohesive material, virtually immune to loss by wind or rain.
The foregoing patents show that a common installation of pavers involves first preparing a level or contoured soil, sand, gravel or other base surface for the pavers, then positioning the pavers on the surface adjacent one another, then applying the polymeric grout by pouring and sweeping the grout into narrow gaps and/or other voids between the adjacent pavers. As a final step, a rigid restraint is secured at the perimeter edge, as shown in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,718 entitled “Edge Restraint For Water Permeable Pavement Systems.” This and all known paver perimeter edge restraint and securing systems or apparatuses still fail to solve significant problems, not the least of which is the loss of grout at the perimeter edge of the pavers.
Accordingly, there is a need for a tool for installation of pavers, and in particular for a paver-perimeter, that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed herein is a paver-perimeter taping tool. The tool comprises a frame having a mounting surface and a peripheral edge. A tape-roll support post is mounted to the frame and configured for supporting a roll of tape. A tape roller is mounted to the frame and extends in a first direction. The tape roller has a rotatable applicator surface that extends beyond the peripheral edge, wherein tape may extend from the roll of tape to the rotatable applicator surface. At least one ground-engaging device is mounted to the frame with a ground-contacting surface of the ground-engaging device extending in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A handle attaches at a bottom handle end to the frame and extends to an opposed operator handle end, the operator handle end extending at least partially in the first direction from the frame.
The paver-perimeter taping tool may have a pivot post mounted directly to the frame and extending in the first direction. The pivot post may alternatively be indirectly mounted to the frame and extending in the first direction from rotatable mounting to a strut that extends radially from the pivot post. A spring may be disposed to apply a bias to the tape roller and the frame.
In some embodiments, the bottom handle end is secured adjacent a rear edge of the frame and extends from the frame so an operator may grasp and push the operator handle end.
In some embodiments, the ground-engaging device comprises at least one wheel mounted to the frame at a position farther from the handle than the tape roller. In some embodiments, the at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel. In some embodiments, a second wheel is secured to the frame. In some embodiments, a tape cutter is secured to the frame and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle.
Disclosed herein is a wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool comprising a base plate having a forward edge, an opposed rear edge, and opposed side edges extending between the front and rear edges to define a mounting surface extending between the edges. A tape-roll support post is secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and configured for supporting a roll of tape. A pivot post is secured to the mounting surface. A tape roller is pivotally secured to the pivot post and configured so that the pivot post positions a rotating applicator surface of the tape roller beyond at least one of the edges of the base plate. The tape roller is also configured so that tape from the roll of tape extends from the roll of tape and passes over the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller. At least one wheel is rotatably secured to the base plate and configured so that the at least one wheel has a ground-contacting surface extending below the mounting surface of the base plate in a direction opposed to the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post. A handle has a bottom end that is secured adjacent the rear edge of the base plate and an opposed operator end. The handle is configured so that the handle extends away from the rear edge of the base plate and also extends above the mounting surface in the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post. Thus, an operator may push the operator end of the handle in a direction toward the forward edge of the base plate thereby rotating the at least one wheel and moving the base plate so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts, and applies the tape along, a paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers positioned adjacent each other to define the paver-perimeter.
In some embodiments, the at least one wheel is secured to the base plate at a position closer to the forward edge of the base plate than the tape roller, at a position further from the handle than the tape roller, and also at a position adjacent the side edge opposed to the side edge beyond which the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller is positioned. In this configuration, as the paver-perimeter taping tool moves in a direction of travel so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts and applies the tape along the paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers, the operator may simultaneously move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter, thereby turning the at least one wheel into a fulcrum of a second class lever. In this embodiment, the handle receives an application of force and the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller becomes a load positioned between the fulcrum and application of force, so that the application of force by the operator to move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter produces a mechanical advantage upon the force impacting the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller to assist in adhering the tape to the paver-perimeter.
In some embodiments, a second wheel is secured to the base plate at a position so that a ground contacting surface of the second wheel is between the outer rotating applicator surface of the tape roller and the at least one wheel. A spring may be secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and to the tape roller to apply a spring bias force to bias the tape roller beyond the outer edge of the mounting surface of the base plate.
A tape cutter may be secured to the base plate and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle. The at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel to correspond to varying thicknesses of the paver-perimeter.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection, but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONU.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 62/859,232, which is the above claimed priority application, is hereby incorporated in this application by reference.
A wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool is generally designated in the accompanying drawings with the reference numeral 10, and may include a substructure, to which other components attach in the manner of a frame, which may be the base plate 12. The base plate 12 has, with the front at the left in the orientation of
A first axle, such as the tape roll support post 26, is secured to the base plate 12 and extends transversely from the substantially planar surface 22 of the base plate 12. The tape roll support post 26 may extend above and perpendicular to the surface 22 in an operable orientation shown in
A second axle, such as the tape roller 32, may be mounted directly to the base plate 12 radially spaced from the tape roll support post 26, and preferably above and optionally perpendicular to the mounting surface 22. The tape roller 32 has a rotating applicator surface 34 that may be disposed laterally beyond the outer edge 24 of the base plate 12 so that tape 36 may be applied to the sides of pavers adjacent to which the tool 10 is disposed. Because the applicator surface 34 is disposed laterally beyond the outer edge 24, the applicator surface 34 positions the adhesive surface of the tape 36 laterally beyond the outer edge 24. This relationship prevents the outer edge 24, and preferably any other tool structure, from blocking or interfering with the tape 36 on the applicator surface 34 from contacting the paver perimeter 48. Thus, when the tool 10 is disposed adjacent the pavers' edges, the adhesive surface of the tape 36 may contact the pavers' edges.
An optional third axle, such as the pivot post 30, may be secured to the base plate 12 radially spaced from the tape roll support post 26 and the tape roller 32. The pivot post 30 is preferably above (in the
The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may include a pre-compressed spring 60 (see
At least one ground-engaging device, such as the wheel 38, is secured to the base plate 12, preferably adjacent one of the edges 14-20, which may be the edge 20. The wheel 38 with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation (in the orientation of
A handle 42 includes a bottom handle end 44 and an opposed operator handle end 46. The bottom handle end 44 (in the orientation of
An operator may grasp the operator handle end 46 and push the tool 10 with a force directed toward the forward edge 14 of the base plate 12, which is a longitudinal direction along the length of the tool 10. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may be operated to move alongside the pavers 50 to apply a layer of tape 36 against the paver-perimeter 48 of the pavers 50. The tool 10 is typically operated in this manner after the pavers 50 are placed in a desired layout (see
During operation, the tape is first pressed against the paver-perimeter 48 with sufficient force to cause the tape to adhere to the paver-perimeter 48. A longitudinal force applied to the handle 42 of the tool 10, if sufficient, causes the at least one wheel 38 to rotate against the ground upon which it rests, thereby permitting the entire tool to move along the paver-perimeter 48. During movement of the tool, the rotating applicator surface 34 of the tape roller 32 presses and applies tape 36 along the paver-perimeter 48 of a plurality of pavers 50 while the tape roller 32 rolls against the non-adhesive side of the tape 36. The tape 36 is dispensed, by rotation of the tape roll 28 on the tape roll support post 26, in a continuous motion and is applied against the paver-perimeter 48 to adhere thereto.
The layer of tape 36 is preferably applied to abut top edges 54 of the paver-perimeter 48 (as shown in
The present inventors have discovered that the ordinary procedure of pouring grout into the voids 52 between the paver blocks 50, and then sweeping upper surfaces of the pavers 50 to move the grout into the voids 52, results in uncured grout falling out of the voids 52 between the pavers 50 at the paver-perimeter 48 if one pours grout before applying a rigid, permanent edge restraint (not shown) to the paver-perimeter 48. This leaves an unsightly paver-perimeter 48 that is prone to infestation by plants and insects (not shown), and that is difficult to remedy after the rigid edge restraint has been applied and especially after the remaining grout has been cured. Application of tape 36 by hand at ground level is very difficult, very time consuming and very labor intensive. However, by use of the present wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10, the voids 52 between the pavers at the paver-perimeter 48 may now be efficiently sealed against loss of grout until a rigid edge restraint is secured to the paver perimeter 48 after the grout has cured and, optionally, the tape has been removed from the paver perimeter 48.
In one embodiment of the wheeled paver perimeter taping tool 10, the at least one wheel 38 is disposed at a position farther forward from the tape roller 32 than the attachment point on the base plate 12 of the handle 42. The at least one wheel 38 may be disposed at a position adjacent the side edge 20, which is opposed to the side edge 18 beyond which the rotating applicator surface 34 is positioned. As the paver-perimeter taping tool 10 moves in a direction of travel so that the rotating applicator 34 surface of the tape roller 32 contacts the rear (non-adhesive) surface of the tape, and applies the adhesive surface of the tape 36 to and along the paver-perimeter 48 of a plurality of pavers 50, the operator may simultaneously move or apply a lateral (in a direction from the base plate 12 toward the paver-perimeter 48) force to the handle 42. Such a force applied to the handle 42 effectively turns the wheel 38 into a fulcrum of a second class lever. Thus, when the operator (not shown) applies such a lateral force to the handle 42, the rotating applicator surface 34 of the tape roller 32 applying at least a portion of the force to the paver-perimeter 48, in effect, is a load positioned between the fulcrum 38 and the application of a lateral force to the handle 42. Therefore, the application of force by the operator to the handle 42 in a direction toward the paver-perimeter 48 produces a mechanical advantage upon the rotating applicator surface 34 of the tape roller 32, and this force assists in assuring adherence of the tape 36 to the paver-perimeter 48.
In one embodiment, the wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may include a second wheel 56. The second wheel 56 may be secured to the base plate 12 at a position that disposes the extended rotating applicator surface 34 of the tape roller 32 longitudinally between a ground contacting surface 58 of the second wheel 56 and the at least one or first wheel 38.
In one embodiment, the wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may include a tape cutter (not shown) that is secured to the base plate 12 or any component that is secured to the base plate 12. Such a tape cutter may include any common mechanisms that would be suitable for cutting the tape 36, such as blades (not shown) adjacent the tape and moving in the manner of scissors. Such blades may be disposed on the side of the tape roller 32 opposite the tape roll support post 26. The tape cutter may include an activation cable extending along the handle from the blades to the operator handle end 46, and may also include a cutting trigger mechanism secured adjacent to the operator handle end 46 to allow the operator to selectively cut the tape 36 upon activation of the cutting trigger by the operator's hand.
The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may also provide for the at least one or first 38 wheel to be replaced by an alternative wheel (not shown) that has a diameter that is different than a diameter of the first wheel 38, which thereby causes vertical adjustment of the rotating applicator surface 34 relative to the surface of the ground around the pavers 50 to thereby vertically adjust the position of the tape on the paver-perimeter 48. There may be many such alternative wheels (not shown) to correspond to varying thicknesses of pavers 50, and therefore locations of paver-perimeters 48.
In a further embodiment, the wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may utilize a biodegradable tape 36. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10 may use tape 36 that has a color selected from a variety of colors to correspond to a color of grout that is positioned between the pavers of the plurality of pavers.
While the present disclosure has been presented above with respect to the described and illustrated embodiments of wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool 10, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to those alternatives and described embodiments. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the following claims rather than the foregoing description to determine the scope of the disclosure.
This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A paver-perimeter taping tool comprising:
- (a) a frame having a mounting surface and a peripheral edge;
- (b) a tape-roll support post mounted to the frame and configured for supporting a roll of tape;
- (c) a tape roller mounted to the frame and extending in a first direction, the tape roller having a rotatable applicator surface that extends beyond the peripheral edge, wherein tape may extend from the roll of tape to the rotatable applicator surface;
- (d) at least one ground-engaging device mounted to the frame with a ground-contacting surface of the ground-engaging device extending in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction; and
- (e) a handle attaching at a bottom handle end to the frame and extending to an opposed operator handle end, the operator handle end extending at least partially in the first direction from the frame.
2. The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pivot post mounted to the frame and extending in the first direction.
3. The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
- (a) a pivot post mounted to the frame and extending in the first direction; and
- (b) a strut extending radially from the pivot post and the tape roller rotatably mounted to the strut.
4. The paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed to apply a bias to the tape roller and the frame.
5. The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bottom handle end is secured adjacent a rear edge of the frame and extends from the frame so an operator may grasp and push the operator handle end.
6. The paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging device comprises at least one wheel mounted to the frame at a position farther from the handle than the tape roller.
7. The paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 6, further comprising a second wheel secured to the frame.
8. The paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 6, wherein the at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel.
9. The paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 1, further comprising a tape cutter secured to the frame and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle.
10. A wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool, the tool comprising:
- (a) a base plate having a forward edge, an opposed rear edge, and opposed side edges extending between the front and rear edges to define a mounting surface extending between the edges;
- (b) a tape-roll support post secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and configured for supporting a roll of tape;
- (c) a pivot post secured to the mounting surface;
- (d) a tape roller pivotally secured to the pivot post and configured so that the pivot post positions a rotating applicator surface of the tape roller beyond at least one of the edges of the base plate, and configured so that tape from the roll of tape extends from the roll of tape and passes over the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller;
- (e) at least one wheel rotatably secured to the base plate and configured so that the at least one wheel has a ground-contacting surface extending below the mounting surface of the base plate in a direction opposed to the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post; and
- (f) a handle having a bottom end and an opposed operator end, the bottom end being secured adjacent the rear edge of the base plate and extending away from the rear edge and mounting surface of the base plate in the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post so that an operator may push the operator end of the handle in a direction toward the forward edge of the base plate thereby rotating the at least one wheel and moving the base plate so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts, and applies the tape along, a paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers positioned adjacent each other to define the paver-perimeter.
11. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 10, further comprising the at least one wheel being secured to the base plate at a position closer to the forward edge of the base plate than the tape roller, at a position further from the handle than the tape roller, and at a position adjacent the side edge opposed to the side edge beyond which the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller is positioned, and configured so that, as the paver-perimeter taping tool moves in a direction of travel so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts and applies the tape along the paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers, the operator may simultaneously move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter, thereby turning the at least one wheel into a fulcrum of a second class lever wherein the handle receives an application of force and the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller becomes a load positioned between the fulcrum and application of force, so that the application of force by the operator to move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter produces a mechanical advantage upon the force impacting the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller to assist in adhering the tape to the paver-perimeter.
12. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping-tool of claim 10, further comprising a second wheel secured to the base plate at a position so that a ground contacting surface of the second wheel is between the tape roller and the at least one wheel.
13. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 10, further comprising a spring secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and to the tape roller and configured to apply a spring bias force tending to move the tape roller beyond the outer edge of the mounting surface of the base plate.
14. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 10, further comprising a tape cutter secured to the base plate and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle.
15. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 10, further comprising the tape being biodegradable tape.
16. The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of claim 10, wherein the at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel to correspond to varying thicknesses of the paver-perimeter.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2020
Publication Date: Dec 10, 2020
Inventors: David Paul Morin (Cheshire, MA), Thomas Michael Morin (Adams, MA)
Application Number: 16/897,409